List of Arkansas state parks

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Arkansas State Parks

There are 52state parksin the U.S. state ofArkansas,as of 2019.The state parks division of theArkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourismis the governing body and operator of all parks, although jurisdiction is shared with other state agencies in a few cases.

The first Arkansas state park,Petit Jean State Park,opened in 1923 following an unsuccessful attempt by a lumber company to donate the Seven Hollows and canyon areas to the federal government as a National Park.Stephen Matherdeemed the parcel too small in 1921, but theArkansas General Assemblypassed Act 276, allowing theCommissioner of State Landsto accept donations of land for public use.

The list gives an overview of Arkansas state parks and a brief history of their development since the first park opened in 1923. State parks range in size from 1 acre (0.40 ha) to 11,744 acres (4,753 ha).

Current Arkansas state parks

Name	County	Size	Estab- lished	River / lake	Image	Remarks
Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources	Union	19acres (8 ha)	1986	None		Museum preserving and interpreting the history ofoilandbrominemining in Arkansas
Arkansas Post Museum	Arkansas	8acres (3.2 ha)	1997	None		Museum dedicated to the history ofArkansas Post,Arkansas's territorial capital until 1821. Located on the grounds of theArkansas Post National Memorial(National Park Service)
Bull Shoals-White River	Baxter,Marion	732acres (296 ha)	1955	Bull Shoals Lake		Trout fishing destination above and belowBull Shoals Damwith over 100 campsites
Cane Creek	Lincoln	2,053acres (831 ha)	1992	Cane Creek Lake		Wooded lake alongBayou Bartholomewincluding a hiking trail and camping
Conway Cemetery	Lafayette	11.5acres (5 ha)	1986	None		Historical state park with no recreational services located onJames Sevier Conway's (the firstgovernor of Arkansas) former cotton plantation
Cossatot River	Howard,Polk	5,230acres (2145 ha)	1988	Cossatot River		Class III, IV, and V whitewater rafting river listed on the National Park Service'sNational Wild and Scenic Rivers System
Crater of Diamonds	Pike	911acres (369 ha)	1972	None		World's only diamond-bearing site accessible to the public
Crowley's Ridge	Greene	291acres (118 ha)	1937	Lake Ponder		Park built on the homestead ofBenjamin Crowley,dedicated to the culture and history of theCrowley's Ridgeregion. Includes many structures built in the 1930s by theCivilian Conservation Corpsand spring-fed Lake Ponder
Daisy	Pike	276acres (112 ha)	1955	Lake Greeson		Park nestled within theOuachita MountainsonLake Greesonnear theOuachita National Forest.Popular for camping, water sports, and fishing
Davidsonville	Randolph	163acres (66 ha)	1957	Black River		Historic state park preserving the abandoned frontier river town of Davidsonville. Interpretive tours and signs guide visitors through the historic community bypassed by theSouthwest Trailin the 1820s. Fishing is available along three nearby rivers, with 49 campsites
DeGray Lake	Clark,Hot Spring	984acres (398 ha)	1974	DeGray Lake		Resort state park with championship rated golf course, 94 room lodge, and over 100 campsites
Delta Heritage Trail	Arkansas,Desha,Phillips	960acres (390 ha)	2002	None		Rails to trailsconversion of former railroad bed throughArkansas Deltalowlands, currently 14 miles (23 km), planned to be 73 miles (117 km)
Devil's Den	Washington	2,500acres (1000 ha)	1933	Lee Creek		Civilian Conservation Corps-built park in theOzarkswith lake, caves, swimming pool and several trails. Includes over 100 campsites, including cabins
Hampson Archeological Museum	Mississippi	5acres (2 ha)	1961	None		Museum displaying archeological artifacts from theNodena site,an aboriginal village of the Nodena people dated 1400-1650 CE, and bones from theIsland 35 Mastodon
Herman Davis	Mississippi	1acre (0.4 ha)	1953	None		Park surrounding a grave and memorial toHerman Davis,a U.S. sniper duringWorld War I
Historic Washington	Hempstead	101acres (41 ha)	1973	None		Fifty-three buildings that preserve and interpret the architectural, cultural, and political history of a historic nineteenth century town.
Hobbs Conservation Area	Benton,Carroll,Madison	12,056acres (4879 ha)	1979	Beaver Lake		Large park in theBoston MountainsalongBeaver Lakefeaturing trails, camping, and a shooting range.
Jacksonport	Jackson	164.7acres (66.7 ha)	1965	Black RiverandWhite River		Park containing the 1872 Jacksonport courthouse, preserving the culture and history of a former steamboat river town
Jenkins' Ferry Battleground	Grant	40acres (16.2 ha)	1961	Saline River		One of three battleground sites from theCamden Expeditionof theCivil War.Water recreation available on the Saline River
Lake Catherine	Garland,Hot Spring	2,180acres (882.2 ha)	1935	Lake Catherine		Civilian Conservation Corps park created along the lake, resulting in a well-preserved natural shoreline. Park features cabins, campsites, nature programs, marina, hiking trails, and a sand beach swimming area
Lake Charles	Lawrence	140acres (57 ha)	1967	Lake Charles		Lake is maintained and stocked with fish by theArkansas Game and Fish Commission;also features camping, hiking, boat ramps and an interpretative nature center
Lake Chicot	Chicot	211.6acres (85.6 ha)	1957	Lake Chicot		Largestoxbow lakein the United States; formerly the main channel of theMississippi River.Park is located within a pecan grove within a bayou environment, offering 122 campsites, 14 cabins, swimming pool, boat shop/marina and interpretative visitor center.
Lake Dardanelle	Pope	246acres (99.6 ha)	1966	Lake Dardanelle		Two sites (RussellvilleandDardanelle), including 74 campsites, boating, visitor center, and aquarium. Popular for bass fishing, including hosting many major tournaments.
Lake Fort Smith	Crawford	260acres (105.2 ha)	1967	Lake Fort Smith		Large lake in the Ozarks offering 30 campsites, 10 cabins, a marina, swimming pool and visitor center
Lake Frierson	Greene	114acres (46.1 ha)	1975	Lake Frierson		Reservoir built alongCrowley's Ridgeknown for fishing. Features seven campsites, trails, boat ramp and visitor center
Lake Ouachita	Garland	360acres (145.7 ha)	1955	Lake Ouachita		Built surrounding a reservoir, the park features a marina, trails, restaurant, eagle tours, and interpretative information on three historic springs in the park vicinity
Lake Poinsett	Poinsett	132acres (53.4 ha)	1963	Lake Poinsett		Popular with fishing enthusiasts, the park offers 29 campsites, trails and interpretative programs
Logoly	Columbia	368acres (148.9 ha)	1974	None		Environmental education park containing mature oak-hickory forests, mineral springs and endangered species
Louisiana Purchase	Lee,Monroe,Phillips	37.5acres (15.2 ha)	1961	None		Boardwalk through a headwater swamp leading to a monument dedicating the point of beginning of all surveys of theLouisiana Purchase,which allowed for the westward development and expansion of the United States
Lower White River Museum	Prairie	0.4acres (0.2 ha)	1975	White River		Museum dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of culture, commerce and history along the White River in Arkansas
Mammoth Spring	Fulton	623.5acres (25 ha)	1957	Mammoth Spring		Park surrounding the large natural spring, offering fishing, boating and hiking, an Arkansas welcome center and museum
Marks' Mills Battleground	Cleveland	6.2acres (2.5 ha)	1961	None		Park commemoratingCivil Warbattle, including exhibits and park area. Also aRed River CampaignNational Historic Landmark.
Millwood	Little River	824acres (333 ha)	1976	Millwood Lake		Forested area surrounding large lake known for bass fishing, bird watching, hiking and camping.
Mississippi River	Lee,Phillips	536acres (217 ha)	2009	Mississippi River		Newest state park created within theSt. Francis National Forest.Park currently includes campground at Bear Creek Lake and birding trail.
Moro Bay	Bradley	117acres (47 ha)	1972	Ouachita River		Park at the convergence of Raymond Lake, Moro Bay, and the Ouachita River with visitor center. Popular destination for fishing, water sports, hiking trails and camping.
Mount Magazine	Logan	2,234acres (904 ha)	1983	None		The park contains Mossback Ridge, including the peak of Mount Magazine, Arkansas's highest point. Park also contains The Lodge at Mount Magazine, cabins, trails, and a hang gliding area.
Mount Nebo	Yell	2,984acres (1208 ha)	1928	None		One of three mountain state parks in theArkansas River Valley,includeshistoric cabins,14 miles (23 km) of hiking trails, and popular hang-gliding launch points.
Ozark Folk Center	Stone	637acres (258 ha)	1973	None		Located nearMountain View, Arkansas,it preserves the music, culture, and traditions of the Ozark Mountains. Hosts special concerts and regular folk music performances.
Parkin Mounds	Cross	107acres (43 ha)	1994	None
Petit Jean	Conway	3,471acres (1405 ha)	1923	None		Situated atop Petit Jean Mountain in theArkansas River Valley,offers trails, creeks, and geology throughout the forested mountains
Pinnacle Mountain	Pulaski	2,069acres (837 ha)	1973	None		Rocky Pinnacle Mountain emerges where the flat Arkansas Delta intersects the Ouachita Mountains
Plantation Agriculture Museum	Lonoke	14.5acres (5.9 ha)	1985	None		Former general store serving a community of cotton farmers operating as a museum including over 10,000 artifacts. Grounds also contain farm machinery used on cotton plantations.
Plum Bayou Mounds	Lonoke	185acres (75 ha)	1975	None
Poison Springs Battleground	Ouachita	85acres (34 ha)	1961	None		Preserves and commemorates theBattle of Poison Springin theAmerican Civil War,which was part of the 1864Camden Expedition
Powhatan	Lawrence	9.1acres (3.7 ha)	1970	Black River		Preserves a small nineteenth-century river port town on theBlack River
Prairie Grove Battlefield	Washington	840acres (340 ha)	1957	None		Preserves and commemorates theBattle of Prairie Grovein theAmerican Civil War.Park includes a museum, gift shop, and several historic structures from the period relocated to the site around a walking trail.
Queen Wilhelmina	Polk	460acres (190 ha)	1957	None		Lodge atopRich Mountainoffers 38 guest rooms and is surrounded by forested slopes with creeks, trails, and mountain vistas. Located along theTalimena Scenic Drive.
South Arkansas Arboretum	Union	13acres (5.3 ha)	1991	None		Arboretumandbotanical gardenowned bySouth Arkansas Community Collegewith plants native to the Western Gulf Coastal Plain region.
Village Creek	Cross,St. Francis	6,909acres (2,796 ha)	1972	Lakes Austell and Dunn		Large park in the eastern part of the state. Rises alongCrowley's Ridgefrom the surroundingArkansas Delta,includes lakes, twenty-seven-hole golf course, camping, and hiking. One trail follows the 1820sMemphis to Little Rock Road.
White Oak Lake	Ouachita,Nevada	725acres (293 ha)	1961	White Oak Lake		Lake in the woods on the border betweenBottomland hardwood forestandloblolly pineforest with diverse wildlife. Camping, boating, fishing, and hiking are popular around the lake. Interpretative signs about theRed River Campaignin the area during theCivil War.
Withrow Springs	Madison	786acres (318 ha)	1962	Withrow Spring
Woolly Hollow	Faulkner	370acres (150 ha)	1973	None

Other properties operated by Arkansas State Parks

Name	County	Size	River / lake	Image	Remarks
Lake Sylvia Recreation Area	Perry	200acres (81 ha)	Lake Sylvia		A former girl scout camp and a former National Forest Campground, this park encompasses an 18-acre lake and offers camping, hiking, swimming, and interoperative programs. Arkansas State Parks took management operations in July 2021 and is operated under Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
War Memorial Stadium	Pulaski	6.9acres (2.8 ha)	None		A multi-purpose stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. Operated by Arkansas State Parks since 2017.

See also

• List of U.S. national parks

External links

• Media related toArkansas state parksat Wikimedia Commons
• Official website